Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Texas heat wave smashes more records; 93L more organized
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 15:26 GMT le 17 août 2011 +24
Texas' Texas-sized drought and heat wave is setting new records, as August temperatures regularly topping 100° continue to impact most of the state. The high temperature hit 102° at the Houston Intercontinental Airport yesterday, a record for the date, and the 16th consecutive day of 100°+ heat. The 16-day streak is a new record. The previous record was 14 straight days, ending on July 19, 1980.

The low temperature yesterday morning at Dallas/Fort Worth International was 86°--the all-time highest minimum temperature recorded there. This is the 4th time this summer Dallas has had an 86° minimum temperature, with the other dates being July 26, August 3, and August 4. Prior to this year, the hottest minimum temperature ever recorded in Dallas was 85° on September 1, 1939 (which they also matched this summer on July 25, August 7, and again this morning.) Thus Dallas has matched or exceeded their all-time hottest minimum temperature from previous years seven times this year. It's extremely rare for a station with a long observation history spanning more than fifty years to break an all-time record seven times in one year; if anyone can find an example of this in the past, I'd love to hear about it. The National Climatic Data Center records page is a good place to look. Dallas has had 40 days with a minimum temperature of 80° or higher this year, breaking the previous record of 39 days, set in 1998. Dallas had a streak of 40 straight days with a maximum temperature above 100° which ended August 10, good for 2nd place all-time, next to a 42-day streak in 1980.


Figure 1. The amount of rain needed to break the Texas drought is in excess of 15 inches (purple colors) over most of the state. This year's drought is officially Texas' worst one-year drought on record. Image credit: NOAA/NWS.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, twelve other major airports set or tied their all-time high minimum temperature two or more times this summer: San Angelo, TX (four times); Lake Charles, LA (three times); Bristol, TN; Indianapolis, IN; Trenton, NJ; Newark, NJ; West Palm Beach, FL; Shreveport, LA; Beckley, WV; Texarkana, AR; Lake Charles, LA; Lubbock, TX; plus, Fort Worth Meacham Field. This year's total of fourteen airports that broke their all-time high minimum temperature multiple times this summer is similar to last year's total of ten sites. Most notable last year was West Palm Beach, Florida, which tied it's all-time high minimum temperature of 83° five times in 2010.

Fifteen major airports have tied or broken their all-time highest temperature multiple times this summer: Tyler, TX (three times); Tallahassee, FL (three times); Fort Smith, AR; Harrison, AR; Tulsa, OK; McAlester, OK; Longview, TX; and Oklahoma City, OK, Ypsilanti, MI; Altoona, PA; Dubois, PA; Salisbury, MD; Raton, NM; Amarillo, TX; and Dalhart, TX. For comparison, only three stations broke their all-time maximum temperature record multiple times in 2010: Wilmington, DE; Norfolk, VA; and Richmond, VA.


Figure 2. Morning satellite image of Invest 93L.

Caribbean disturbance 93L
A westward-moving tropical wave in the Central Caribbean a few hundred miles south of Hispaniola, Invest 93L, has increased in organization overnight, building up a modest amount of heavy thunderstorms. Low-level spiral bands have begun to form on all sides of the storm this morning. There are currently no signs of a surface circulation, though there is plenty of large-scale rotation apparent on satellite imagery. Dry air surrounds 93L and has infiltrated the center of the disturbance, giving 93L a doughnut-like appearance. However, the disturbance is steadily moistening its environment and is under low wind shear of 5 - 10 knots, so this dry air should gradually mix out today and allow 93L to continue to organize. There is a hurricane hunter mission scheduled for this afternoon at 2pm EDT to see if a tropical depression is forming.

93L will bring heavy rain showers to southern Haiti this afternoon and to Jamaica tonight. By Thursday, 93L's forward motion will slow to 10 - 15 mph, and the storm will bring heavy rains to Northern Honduras and Northeast Nicaragua. These rains will spread to Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula by Saturday. The latest SHIPS model forecast shows wind shear remaining in the low range and the atmosphere steadily moistening as 93L enters the Western Caribbean on Thursday. All of the models agree that the ridge of high pressure steering 93L to the west will remain strong, forcing the storm into a landfall Friday in Northeast Nicaragua or Northeast Honduras. It is possible that 93L will have time to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane before then, though landfall as a tropical storm would be more likely, given the dry air that 93L needs to overcome. Regardless of development, the storm will bring very heavy rains of 4 - 8 inches or more to Nicaragua and Honduras. These rains are likely to cause dangerous flash flooding and mudslides. NHC gave 93L a 30% chance of developing into a tropical depression by Friday morning in their 8am outlook; I'd put these odds at 50% now, given the continued increase in organization seen on satellite images.


Figure 3. Morning satellite image of the tropical wave 500 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands.

Elsewhere in the tropics
A tropical wave near 14°N 34°W, about 500 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa, is moving westward near 15 - 20 mph. This wave has little heavy thunderstorm activity associated with it due to dry air, but an impressive amount of large-scale spin is obvious in visible satellite loops. This wave is expected to arrive in the Lesser Antilles Islands by Saturday. Three of our four reliable models for predicting tropical storm genesis predict that this wave could develop into a tropical depression sometime Friday through Sunday. A west-northwest track through the Northeast Caribbean bringing the storm near Puerto Rico by Sunday or Monday is favored by most of the models.

Jeff Masters
Tanker Drop (anm8ed)
This fire destroyed 15 homes and burned about 30 acres. Was nothuge, but was in a populated area.
Tanker Drop
Jet Ski dock (BEENE)
Business is slow here this summer.
Jet Ski dock
The Marina (BEENE)
Lake Houston is dangerously low as well. They will be draining 12inches of water to ease the water shortage in Houston
The Marina
Categories: Drought Heat Hurricane
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1701. Grothar 01:52 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting PcolaDan:


You're Turkish?


No, but I've been there many, many times. (Saw your entry BTW) :)
Member Since: 17 juillet 2009 Posts: 56 Comments: 19542
1702. aspectre 01:53 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Another bridge between 93L's previous mapping (17August_12amGMT) and when 93L might become a truly trackable TropicalCyclone... Since then:

14.5n69.5w, 14.7n71.3w, 14.9n73.3w, 15.0n75.2w have been re-evaluated&altered for 93L's_12amGMT_ATCF
14.4n69.4w, 14.7n71.3w, 14.9n73.3w, 15.1n74.9w, 15.3n76.5w are now the most recent positions
Starting 17August_12mGMT and ending 18August_12amGMT

The 4 line-segments represent 93L's path.

93L's travel-speed has dropped to 18mph(29k/h) from its previous day's average of 23.1mph(37.2k/h)

Copy&paste bon, 14.4n69.4w-14.7n71.3w, 14.7n71.3w-14.9n73.3w, 14.9n73.3w-15.1n74.9w, 15.1n74.9w-15.3n76.5w, rtb, hav into the GreatCircleMapper for more info
Member Since: 21 août 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 4846
1703. KoritheMan 01:53 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Unfriendly:
honestly... Taz wants every cane to hit the US... been that way for two years. Suprised that he's not banned, some of the stuff he says is downright disresepctful towards victims (or potential victims) of canes.


I agree that Taz could use a little more restraint. However, he has a good heart. This much I do know.
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1705. lottotexas 01:53 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting twincomanche:
Hmmm.
HAARP!
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1706. JLPR2 01:54 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting tropicfreak:


No you are not, questions are always appreciated.


Troughs moving across now will be less pronounced, which means it would curve a storm on a more northerly direction, not completely curve it out to sea. I have a bad feeling about the setup ahead in the upcoming week, looking favorable for a SE US coast hit.


You answered before me, so I'll limit myself to posting this pressure graph from the buoy at 15N 38W. XD



Showing a drop deeper than the normal fluctuations.
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1707. Tazmanian 01:54 GMT le 18 août 2011    
sorry about the commet i made a few post back i re move it
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1708. Autistic2 01:55 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting GoWVU:
People who say they can't wait for a Hurricane to make landfall in the US, really has some problems!!! They have never been through one to make that comment, WOW!!!

If you are told to leave by the pros listen to them!..

Tropical storms can be “fun, exciting etc.”

Hurricanes are just down right dangerous and destructive, it aint no fun watching your roof leave…………
em>
Member Since: 29 août 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 277
1710. WeatherNerdPR 01:55 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting aspectre:
Another bridge between 93L's previous mapping (17August_12amGMT) and
when 93L might become a truly trackable TropicalCyclone...
Since then:
14.5n69.5w, 14.7n71.3w, 14.9n73.3w, 15.0n75.2w have been re-evaluated&altered for 93L's_12amGMT_ATCF
14.4n69.4w, 14.7n71.3w, 14.9n73.3w, 15.1n74.9w, 15.3n76.5w are now the most recent positions
Starting 17August_12mGMT and ending 18August_12amGMT

The 4 line-segments represent 93L's path.

93L's travel-speed has decreased to 18mph(29k/h) from its previous day's average of 23.1mph(37.2k/h).

Copy&paste bon, 14.4n69.4w-14.7n71.3w, 14.7n71.3w-14.9n73.3w, 14.9n73.3w-15.1n74.9w, 15.1n74.9w-15.3n76.5w, rtb, hav into the GreatCircleMapper for more info

No straight-line proyection? :P
Member Since: 7 juillet 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 5464
1711. Matt74 01:55 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting cloudburst2011:



hummm turn it around i cant wait for a big earth quake ..tazz you like that...
lol
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1712. BahaHurican 01:55 GMT le 18 août 2011    
I'm out.
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1714. tropicfreak 01:55 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting JLPR2:


You answered before me, so I'll limit myself to posting this pressure graph from the buoy at 15N 38W. XD



Showing a drop deeper than the normal fluctuations.


Pressures are definitely lower, showing signs of a strengthening system.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2006 Posts: 110 Comments: 6566
1715. scooster67 01:56 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Link
Quoting PcolaDan:
@JimCantore
Jim Cantore
Several reports of damage in Rose Hill, KS, southeast of Wichita coming in. Trees, homes, barns have been damaged
Member Since: 26 septembre 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 637
1716. palmpt 01:56 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:
sorry about the commet i made a few post back i re move it
It's cool dude. You meant no harm. People don't understand you... they take you literally.
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1717. scott39 01:56 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Hey Pat--you got mail, If you didnt get it please tell me.
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1719. Tazmanian 01:57 GMT le 18 août 2011    
any of you think 93L low is closeing off now
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1721. tropicfreak 01:58 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:
any of you think 93L low is closeing off now


It just might tazzo, pressures are definitely lowering.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2006 Posts: 110 Comments: 6566
1722. WeatherNerdPR 01:58 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:
any of you think 93L low is closeing off now

Don't know...too bad visible is gone.
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1723. Autistic2 01:59 GMT le 18 août 2011    
I have been in two hurricanes and left for two. Make realistic decisions on what your home and location can protect you from. Make as many preparations to protect you property as you want to. Then…..

If you are told to leave by the pros listen to them!..

Tropical storms can be “fun, exciting etc.”

Hurricanes are just down right dangerous and destructive, it aint no fun watching your roof leave…………
Member Since: 29 août 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 277
1725. CothranRoss 01:59 GMT le 18 août 2011    
The convection on 93L is starting to taper off, but isn't that just a diurnal thing?
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1726. tropicfreak 02:00 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Autistic2:
I have been in two hurricanes and left for two. Make realistic decisions on what your home and location can protect you from. Make as many preparations to protect you property as you want to. Then…..

If you are told to leave by the pros listen to them!..

Tropical storms can be “fun, exciting etc.”

Hurricanes are just down right dangerous and destructive, it aint no fun watching your roof leave…………


I went through isabel when it was a Cat 1 hurricane, then a strong TS. Not a pretty sight, though it was pretty fun to stand in in the afternoon when the worst came through.
Member Since: 2 septembre 2006 Posts: 110 Comments: 6566
1728. JLPR2 02:00 GMT le 18 août 2011    
The CATL wave's 850mb vort is one of the nicest and largest one I have seen with a system that isn't even a invest yet.

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1729. Patrap 02:00 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting scott39:
Hey Pat--you got mail, If you didnt get it please tell me.


No Wu-mail,received

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1730. CybrTeddy 02:00 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Lay off Taz, he didn't mean any harm and he regrets it.
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1731. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 02:00 GMT le 18 août 2011    
POSS T.C.F.A.
XX/INV/93L
16.10N/76.36W
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40559
1732. tropicfreak 02:01 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting JLPR2:
The CATL wave's 850mb vort is one of the nicest and largest one I have seen with a system that isn't even a invest yet.



Expect 97L to be activated anytime now...
Member Since: 2 septembre 2006 Posts: 110 Comments: 6566
1733. Tazmanian 02:01 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting CothranRoss:
The convection on 93L is starting to taper off, but isn't that just a diurnal thing?



yes but 93L is doing it has not done in a long time it refireing t-storms it may not be march but its a start
Member Since: 21 mai 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111352
1734. GoWVU 02:01 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting CybrTeddy:
Lay off Taz, he didn't mean any harm and he regrets it.


Fair enough, just had to vent
Member Since: 12 septembre 2007 Posts: 3 Comments: 349
1735. tropicfreak 02:01 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting CothranRoss:
The convection on 93L is starting to taper off, but isn't that just a diurnal thing?


Yes.
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1737. TropicalAnalystwx13 02:02 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Do not pay any attention to the CIMSS Vorticity maps, they are obviously off for now.

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1738. KoritheMan 02:02 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting CothranRoss:
The convection on 93L is starting to taper off, but isn't that just a diurnal thing?


Yeah, mostly.
Member Since: 7 Mars 2007 Posts: 408 Comments: 15442
1739. scooster67 02:03 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:
sorry about the commet i made a few post back i re move it
You didn't have to though. Everybody who is anybody on this blog knows you were not referencing the destruction, but just the anxiety/anticipation of tracking and seeing the satellite images. Not to mention all of the gulf and south east coast needs the rain.
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1740. Tazmanian 02:03 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting CybrTeddy:
Lay off Taz, he didn't mean any harm and he regrets it.



yup i re move the post a few post back




now evere one needs too back off or risk being reported and poofed


i did not mean any harm


and thanks CybrTeddy for staning up and watching my back
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1741. WeatherNerdPR 02:03 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Well, gotta go to sleep to get up early for school tomorrow (sigh). Good Night.
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1742. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 02:04 GMT le 18 août 2011    
INV/AOI/XXL
MARK
14.21N/37.86W
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40559
1743. MississippiWx 02:05 GMT le 18 août 2011    
93L has certainly been an interesting invest. It has been a beautiful mid-level cyclone for the past 2 days now, but that's about it. I did notice clouds moving in a SSE and SE motion during the last few frames of visible, something that wasn't happening when recon was investigating earlier.

It's close to closing off the circulation, but it's window of opportunity to develop is closing as well.

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1744. Tazmanian 02:05 GMT le 18 août 2011    
CybrTeddy when you think we see 97L?
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1745. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 02:05 GMT le 18 août 2011    
POSS T.C.F.A.
XX/INV/93L
16.10N/76.36W
Member Since: 15 juillet 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40559
1746. GoWVU 02:05 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting Tazmanian:



yup i re move the post a few post back




now evere one needs too back off or risk being reported and poofed


i did not mean any harm


and thanks CybrTeddy for staning up and watching my back


Taz all is good, I just remember Hugo and never want to go through another one.
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1747. wn1995 02:05 GMT le 18 août 2011    
TS Fernanda may try to make a brief run at hurricane status.

Link
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1748. TropicalAnalystwx13 02:06 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Taz: There is one thing that I would LOVE to see occur. I wish that you would stop announcing when you poof or report people, it just makes the blog upset and causes problems.
Member Since: 6 juillet 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25307
1749. Tazmanian 02:06 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting GoWVU:


Taz all is good, I just remember Hugo and never want to go through another one.



ok
Member Since: 21 mai 2006 Posts: 5088 Comments: 111352
1750. tropicfreak 02:07 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting MississippiWx:
93L has certainly been an interesting invest. It has been a beautiful mid-level cyclone for the past 2 days now, but that's about it. I did notice clouds moving in a SSE and SE motion during the last few frames of visible, something that wasn't happening when recon was investigating earlier.

It's close to closing off the circulation, but it's window of opportunity to develop is closing as well.



It may have more time than thought to strengthen, it's heading just north of west. Refer back to aspectre's post.
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1751. Grothar 02:07 GMT le 18 août 2011    
Quoting twincomanche:
Me thinks this needs a explanation.



I mentioned that the new AOI had a nice swirl. Press wrote about a dance. I said I "dervished" that. You know the "Swirling Dervishes" It was a play on words. Dan and Press like them so I throw them some lines sometimes. It keeps them happy. :)
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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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